Past, Present, and People

On the Campus of History you will learn about Lancaster County—one of America’s oldest communities, founded in 1729—and the unfolding of 300 years of remarkable history. From stories of the Conestoga Indians and the Underground Railroad to the political legacy of James Buchanan and Thaddeus Stevens to the stories of your own family, Lancaster’s history has something to offer every visitor to the Campus of History!

Tour President James Buchanan's Wheatland

Come discover the warmth and hospitality of President James Buchanan’s Wheatland. Tour guides share Buchanan’s family stories that reveal a stern, yet lovable bachelor uncle who raised orphaned nieces and nephews, cared for Lancaster’s widows and orphans and was a successful attorney.

Shop at The Museum Store

LancasterHistory.org’s Museum Store, located at 230 North President Avenue, offers unique and special home decorative items and books related to Lancaster County’s rich history. Stop by to view popular gift items, local folk art, and more.

Explore Freedom in Lancaster

Explore the stories of Lancastrians who sought freedom, fought for freedom, lived in freedom, and were denied freedom over the course of 300 years in LancasterHistory.org’s latest exhibition, FREEDOM: “to secure the Blessings of Liberty.” Learn about stories of hope, joy, struggle, and survival from Penn’s Holy Experiment through the 21st century.

Discover Your Heritage

Let us help you discover your Lancaster County connection! From maps and microfilm to diaries and Civil War muster rolls, LancasterHistory.org’s Research Library and Archives has many documents and services that can help visitors with their scholarly or ancestral research. Our expert staff, with a combined 97 years of experience, are also available to help you.

View Historic Photographs of Lancaster

Walk The Tanger Arboretum

Enjoy the changing of the seasons across the grounds of LancasterHistory.org in the Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum, home to a large variety of mature species of trees from around the globe and an American Conifer Society Reference Garden.